Natural gas, a major source of methane emissions, is extensively used in the United States for various purposes, including heating and electricity generation. To address the environmental impact of methane emissions, researchers are exploring catalysts that can convert methane into usable fuels. A team led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory has developed an inexpensive catalyst capable of operating at room temperature.
This development was featured in the October 15, 2024 edition of ACS Nano. "Researchers have been continually searching for a catalyst that can achieve methane conversion at moderate temperatures," said Brookhaven chemist Arephin Islam, the lead author of the paper. The newly developed catalyst does not require high temperatures like others and utilizes common materials, making it potentially scalable for commercial use.
The catalyst comprises magnesium oxide nanoparticles embedded within a thin layer of copper oxide on a copper base. Previous studies indicated that integrating magnesium oxide with certain metals could enhance its catalytic properties. "It was worth investigating how magnesium oxide in nanoparticle form could be more reactive toward methane," stated Jose Rodriguez, principal investigator.
The research involved studying different concentrations of magnesium oxide on copper oxide using techniques such as ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II). This method provided insights into chemical interactions on the catalyst surface under realistic conditions.
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was also employed to analyze changes in the catalyst surface after reactions. The combined measurements showed that the catalyst effectively activates methane at room temperature and converts it to ethane, a commercially valuable product.
In addition to methane conversion, another study demonstrated this catalyst system's ability to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and other carbon species at room temperature. "Together, these findings are a significant step toward sustainable conversion of two potent greenhouse gases and carbon mitigation strategies," Islam remarked.
This research involved collaboration among scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, the University of Michigan, and the Central University of Venezuela and received funding from the DOE Office of Science.